Looking forward to the new season? Me too. A couple of weeks ago one hot-footed it down to Portman Road to pick up the Barcelona-esque Town away shirt with a spring in the step. One fully expected to be the sole patron but there was a throng of happy faces weaving in and out of the expansive range of new kit.

Last week 8,000 fans interrupted their summer hols and turned up for the annual Open Day festivities. One couldn’t make it due to work commitments but glowing first hand reports of the optimism around FPR and the fun that was had by all could not be mistaken for a damp squib.

Something extraordinary has been going on at our beloved club. We have been dragged by the coat tails out of the malaise that was visited upon us by the Dark Lord and the well-meaning but ineffectual PJ. Some might argue that my football manager credentials are weak, but even I can see that we now have a proper manager who has rallied the troops and assembled a squad who are prepared to roll up the sleeves and challenge at the right end of the table.

As a frequent visitor to this site one is struck by the blind optimism of some and the dogged negativity of others, but let us all agree that we find ourselves in a far better position this August than we have for many a year. While there are no guarantees that we will finish at the top of the pile this time around, as so many competitors eschew FFP in the mad scramble for Premiership loot and foreign ownership, at least we can hold our heads up once more as we make our way to FPR and the many all too familiar Championship grounds around this island.

If some naysayers snigger and smirk at your ‘Barcelona’ shirt and mutter ‘hoofball’ under their pessimistic breath, simply raise a glass and give them an ‘Up the Town!’ from Mick, TC and the rest of us who are on board for an exciting season. While we may not always witness tippy-tap Champagne football, we have good spirits in abundance.

So cheers to Mick and the boys for giving us a fighting chance in the forthcoming season, and although us oldies can still look back fondly to ‘those were the days’ we can also start to look forward with renewed hope and enthusiasm.

bluesym added 11:57 - Aug 2 'Well meaning but ineffectual PJ' - That is the nicest way yet I have seen Jewell described as thoroughly sh1te.
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DazBent added 12:09 - Aug 2 Completely spot on! Although Ipswich is not perfect, I for one an eighteen year old haven''t felt such a buzz for a long time. Whether it's the excitement of finishing in the top 10 or the confidence of winning at home most weeks. The big reason for this is the character of our squad which has been driven by MM and TC. I feel for the first time in years I want to get 3 or 4 names on the back of my shirt! So let's be optimistic for once it hasn't been this good for years. Think of the Chambo fist pumps all over the country

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IamSpartacus added 13:51 - Aug 2 Good summation- although I agree with Bluesym, Jewell was just the worst manager we have ever had, leaving the club in tatters, wasting ridiculous amounts of cash and almost dropping us into League 1. MM has slowly been building a unit of players that run through walls for the club. Each close season he adds a few more, bloods some kids & ensures they all have the right attitude. Like you (and I'm in my early 40's), this is the most positive I've felt since at least the JR era, and possibly back to Burley.

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ITFCcharmer added 16:37 - Aug 2 I culdn't agree more with everything you've written. Being in my late 30's I can remember experiencing the buzz under Burney and Royal but there is a whole generation of town fan who hasn't had anything to get excited about... Until now! There are a number of fans that criticise our style of football and don't like not "knowing" who our chairman is but they can't disagree that we are in a far better position now than we have been in for years and excitement and optimism for most has returned. Thank you MM and TC - #COYB #InMickWeTrust

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